numerous empires have expanded their territories
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Writer AndyKim
Hit 1,969 Hit
Date 25-01-17 12:12
Content
Throughout history, numerous empires have expanded their territories, leaving significant marks on global civilization. Below is a detailed list of the **top 50 largest empires by land area**, along with their peak land areas and periods of greatest extent:
1. **British Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 13.71 million square miles (35.5 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 20th century, around 1920
- **Overview:** The British Empire was the largest empire in history, encompassing territories on every inhabited continent. Its vast expanse led to the saying, "The sun never sets on the British Empire."
2. **Mongol Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 9.27 million square miles (24 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 13th century, around 1270
- **Overview:** Founded by Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire became the largest contiguous land empire, stretching from Eastern Europe to East Asia.
3. **Russian Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 8.8 million square miles (22.8 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 19th century, around 1866
- **Overview:** The Russian Empire expanded across Eurasia, becoming one of the most influential powers of its time.
4. **Qing Dynasty**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 5.68 million square miles (14.7 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 19th century, around 1820
- **Overview:** The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, overseeing significant territorial expansions.
5. **Spanish Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 5.29 million square miles (13.7 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 18th century, around 1790
- **Overview:** One of the first global empires, Spain's territories spanned Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
6. **Umayyad Caliphate**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.29 million square miles (11.1 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 8th century, around 720
- **Overview:** The Umayyad Caliphate was one of the largest Islamic caliphates, extending from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indus River.
7. **Yuan Dynasty**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.25 million square miles (11 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 13th century, around 1310
- **Overview:** Established by Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty ruled over present-day China and Mongolia.
8. **Abbasid Caliphate**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.29 million square miles (11.1 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Mid 8th century, around 750
- **Overview:** The Abbasid Caliphate succeeded the Umayyad, with its capital in Baghdad, and was a center of Islamic culture and science.
9. **French Colonial Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.44 million square miles (11.5 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 20th century, around 1920
- **Overview:** France established colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Asia, becoming the second-largest colonial empire.
10. **Portuguese Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.03 million square miles (10.4 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 19th century, around 1815
- **Overview:** As one of the longest-lived empires, Portugal's territories included parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
11. **Rashidun Caliphate**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 3.47 million square miles (9 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Mid 7th century, around 654
- **Overview:** The Rashidun Caliphate was the first of the Islamic caliphates, rapidly expanding across the Middle East and North Africa.
12. **Ottoman Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 2.01 million square miles (5.2 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 17th century, around 1683
- **Overview:** The Ottoman Empire spanned Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, lasting over six centuries.
13. **Ming Dynasty**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 2.5 million square miles (6.5 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 15th century, around 1430
- **Overview:** The Ming Dynasty is known for its trade expansion and cultural achievements, including the construction of the Forbidden City.
1. **British Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 13.71 million square miles (35.5 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 20th century, around 1920
- **Overview:** The British Empire was the largest empire in history, encompassing territories on every inhabited continent. Its vast expanse led to the saying, "The sun never sets on the British Empire."
2. **Mongol Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 9.27 million square miles (24 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 13th century, around 1270
- **Overview:** Founded by Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire became the largest contiguous land empire, stretching from Eastern Europe to East Asia.
3. **Russian Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 8.8 million square miles (22.8 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 19th century, around 1866
- **Overview:** The Russian Empire expanded across Eurasia, becoming one of the most influential powers of its time.
4. **Qing Dynasty**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 5.68 million square miles (14.7 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 19th century, around 1820
- **Overview:** The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, overseeing significant territorial expansions.
5. **Spanish Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 5.29 million square miles (13.7 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 18th century, around 1790
- **Overview:** One of the first global empires, Spain's territories spanned Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
6. **Umayyad Caliphate**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.29 million square miles (11.1 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 8th century, around 720
- **Overview:** The Umayyad Caliphate was one of the largest Islamic caliphates, extending from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indus River.
7. **Yuan Dynasty**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.25 million square miles (11 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 13th century, around 1310
- **Overview:** Established by Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty ruled over present-day China and Mongolia.
8. **Abbasid Caliphate**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.29 million square miles (11.1 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Mid 8th century, around 750
- **Overview:** The Abbasid Caliphate succeeded the Umayyad, with its capital in Baghdad, and was a center of Islamic culture and science.
9. **French Colonial Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.44 million square miles (11.5 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 20th century, around 1920
- **Overview:** France established colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Asia, becoming the second-largest colonial empire.
10. **Portuguese Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 4.03 million square miles (10.4 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 19th century, around 1815
- **Overview:** As one of the longest-lived empires, Portugal's territories included parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
11. **Rashidun Caliphate**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 3.47 million square miles (9 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Mid 7th century, around 654
- **Overview:** The Rashidun Caliphate was the first of the Islamic caliphates, rapidly expanding across the Middle East and North Africa.
12. **Ottoman Empire**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 2.01 million square miles (5.2 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Late 17th century, around 1683
- **Overview:** The Ottoman Empire spanned Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, lasting over six centuries.
13. **Ming Dynasty**
- **Peak Land Area:** Approximately 2.5 million square miles (6.5 million km²)
- **Period of Greatest Extent:** Early 15th century, around 1430
- **Overview:** The Ming Dynasty is known for its trade expansion and cultural achievements, including the construction of the Forbidden City.